Charles on Why He'll Keep Mouth Shut as King: 'I'm Not That Stupid'

In this grab taken from video provided by the BBC on Thursday, Britain's Prince Charles is interviewed during a documentary to celebrate his 70th birthday. (BBC via AP)In this grab taken from video provided by the BBC on Thursday, Britain's Prince Charles is interviewed during a documentary to celebrate his 70th birthday. (BBC via AP)

(Newser)
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When he's not having servants iron his shoelaces, Prince Charles has been accused of "meddling" into hot topics such as the environment by strongly voicing his opinions—not a typical stance for royals to take in public debates. And he's defiant about it, telling a BBC documentary set to commemorate his 70th birthday next week that "if it's meddling to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago, then … I'm proud of it," the BBC notes. But all that may change the minute he dons the crown as king, because he also tells filmmaker John Bridcut, who's shadowed him for the past year, that it's "nonsense" to expect him to remain as vocal once he takes over the royal top spot from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

"I'm not that stupid," Charles explains to Bridcut on why his public "motivating" would suddenly come to a halt. The "two situations"—him as just the heir and him as the ruling monarch—"are completely different." Per Sky News and NBC News, issues he's kept close to his heart over the years include everything from climate change and interior design to wildlife conservation, farming, and herbal medicine. NBC notes his mum has stayed famously mum on political or otherwise contentious issues during her reign. The documentary will also show the prince in candid moments, such as him chatting with turkeys on his estate and going on an "impromptu shopping spree" on a South Pacific Island. (Secret letters once revealed Charles' beef with illegal fishing.)